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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Many times the thoughts of Christmas evokes of the bustle of shopping and the quickened pace of activities and events. In times past, gifts were given in order to provide the necessities of life rather than filling the fringe of every desire. In looking back through the leaves of history, I would like to share glimpses of past gifts, gatherings, and benevolence at Christmas.

1908…Gifts for the Wife
If you love your wife buy her a Cook Stove, Range, or a Buggy. These three things are dear to every married woman’s heart. What we have in the Stove, Range, and Buggy lines are strictly up-to-date and are A1 quality. The best line Cook Stoves are $6.00 and up. The best Ranges on the market start at $25.00. For the best Buggy on the Market prices start at $35.00. Come see I. J. Morris, The Implement Man in Mountain Home, Arkansas.

1909... Gathering at the Apron Strings (We used to call this "Sparking.")

Misses Argie and Margie Redus entertained a large number of their friends Friday evening with an apron and tie party. The girls brought the aprons and ties and the boys chose the ties in envelops and matched them with the aprons the girls were wearing. Each apron was unhemed and the boys had to hem the girl’s apron. A prize was offered for this and was won by Mr. Claude Alley. Later a gum molding contest kept the fun moving. Each had to make from a piece of chewing gum some animal or bird designed. Miss Beulah Casey won this prize by making an excellent dog. Refreshments were served later in the evening. All spent a very pleasant evening.

1910…Gifts in Baxter County
Shoes, Oranges, Candies, and Nuts were on sale for Christmas at the Redus Mercantile Store in Mountain Home, Arkansas.

1911…Gifts in Cotter

1914…True Christmas Spirit in Cotter

1927…Good Will & Benevolence

Some of the greatest influences in Ozark history are the many times the White River flooded. Great havoc has been chronicled in this region, including the “Flood of 16” (1916). Nevertheless, “The Flood of 27” was the turning point of exasperation. I will not repeat a great entry that is cataloged on the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, but I encourage you to read about it here at the Flood of 27.

Cotter, Arkansas

The Flood of 1927

The flood brought devastation along the Mississippi, Arkansas, and White Rivers. The rains began in the spring, lasted through the summer until September. A small reprieve was felt by October. At Christmas, another soaking made front-page news, although it was small in comparison.

The North Fork River was at 30 feet flood stage, the Buffalo River was at 45 feet flood stage, and the White River at Cotter was resting on 28 feet at flood stage and fomenting its’ weight down to Batesville. Baxter, Izard, and Marion County roads along the rivers and streams were washed out. The White River Division of the Missouri Pacific Railroad was damaged. Half of the town of Calico Rock, Arkansas, was flooded, and water ran through the main street in Guion, Arkansas.

Many lost houses, crops, cattle, and land this year to the deluge. Although houses were destroyed, the Ozark home endured by grit and determination. Even so, neighbors strove to lend a helping hand to bridge the chasm of despair with goodwill, compassion, and true Christmas Spirit.

Friday, December 18, 2009

According to the story we are working through, two women, Mrs. Frank Graham & Mrs. James Crabtree, pummeled each other with stones, and then they apparently brought out Bowie knives to finish the job. In all of the articles I found, the first name of each woman was not given. Therefore, I had to find the name of each husband in the southern part of Ozark County, Missouri.

Enter the U.S. Census.

Mr. Frank Graham

According to the 1900 U.S. Census, I found only one Frank Graham lived in the western part in the Bayou District in Ozark County. Therefore, I must assume this is the Frank Graham referenced in the articles.

In 1900, Mr. Graham was 32 years old, single, listed as a boarder, and working as a farm laborer. Therefore, he’s got 8 years to find his wife and begin a family.

His neighbors listed in the 1900 U. S. Census were: Cowart, Hamilton, and Luna; all three are Ozark County families.

In the 1910 Census, Frank Graham is married to a Lottie Graham. Let’s assume that’s her by our best estimation.

According to the story, James & Mariah Graham had a daughter that saw the duel who was either 3 or 10 years old. There was only one reference stating the child was only 3 years old. They have no children listed on the 1910 Census two years after the duel. So, I checked the 1920 Census records for this daughter.

She's not there.

There are also 567 references stating the daughter was 10 years old. Something’s wrong here.

Wait. Did I say 567?

Yes, I did.

This wild story was published in 568 newspapers across the United States.

It’s amazing what gets published.

Now, let us get back to our sleuthing.

Mr. James Crabtree

According to the 1900 U.S. Census, we do find a Mr. Crabtree; he was living nearby in the Bridges District in Ozark County, Missouri.

He was 67 years old in 1900; this would make James 75 years old at the time of the feud…tough old knot.

James’ wife was listed as Mariah Crabtree.

James & Mariah were married in 1875

This would make James about 43 years old and Mariah 21 years old at the time of their nuptials.
Their age difference may seem a little unusual, but it’s not uncommon.

In addition, Mariah was listed as 45 years old in 1900; therefore, this would make Mariah about 53 years old at the time of the feud.

Shooting From the Hip
By best estimation, Mariah was probable one of the women participating in the fight.

Conflicting Evidence
Not everything is smooth and clean in this story. For example, some columns stated a three-year-old daughter was at the scene of the carnage. Yet, another claim stated the adolescent was a ten-year-old girl. Plus, I could not find her.

I had also surmised Mr. James Crabtree was Mariah Crabtree from the census. If she was killed, surely I could find her grave in southern Ozark County. That’s what I attempted to do. I went to the Mammoth Cemetery because I thought I remembered seeing a Crabtree gravestone there. A Crabtree was listed, but she’s not there.

How about the Isabella Cemetery? No good.

Then I happened to look in the Pontiac Cemetery. Lo and behold…there was Mariah Crabtree, but her date of death is not in 1908.

She was born April 2, 1855, and died March 11, 1931.

Conclusion
It’s got to be two things.

Either we have the wrong Mrs. Frank Crabtree, or the newspapers were wrong in stating the facts of this vicious crime.

I’m picking…the newspapers have a windbag of a story, and it’s the right Mrs. Frank Crabtree.

The Light Comes On
After working through some of these discrepancies, I started looking for newspaper retractions for further developments on this story.

This was allegedly to be an unbelievable felony.

A trial should quickly ensue.

We have motherless children, and a grieving 75 year old man. - This is not good in 1908. An old man with children needs a wife to survive.

Nevertheless, I had zilch to show on the contrary. No results. Nothing I had nothing for four weeks.

What really happened?

I was at a standstill.

Until…

Ta-Dah !!!
Hallelujah! Hello Nebraska. So, there it is.

The answer had eluded me; there was only one retraction.

Only one newspaper said, “Oops.” “The duel was grossly exaggerated.” I examined and reread later newspaper editions for an apology for this editorial gaffe and blunder to no avail. This story had grown to unknown proportions; it was a grand read in the imaginations of the masses.

Is the truth still out there?

Yes.

Do I know it all? No, but I’m getting there.

Did sister-in-laws fight. Probably.

Was it bad? Probably.

To the death? No.

Even so, the consequences are rarely weighed when one profits at the expense of another. That is the bitter root in our hearts when wealth is placed over the welfare of our neighbor, rumors and gossip entangle our affairs, and the facts are glossed over in the printed page. That is the bitter root in our hearts when wealth is placed over the welfare of our neighbor, rumors and gossip entangle our affairs, and the facts are glossed over in the printed page.

Through the reflection of our past, let us embrace our flaws and triumphs, and give full evidence of our heritage.
May we all look at each other…
knowing we all need redemption from our Father in Heaven…
giving allegiance to the Truth, even to our hurt…
and chronicle new chapters of our Ozarks’ History.

Friday, December 11, 2009

It was once believed there was a warring nation of women so dedicated in dominating opponents, they would willingly shear off a breast in order to improve their skill of archery unencumbered. According to the ancient Greek, Aeschylus, these warmongering “men haters” were known as the Amazons. The Amazon’s ancient queen, Penthesilea, was killed by famed Achilles. After doing so, he mourned her tragic fate because she was very beautiful and young.

With this famed myth, newspapers coined this term to an incident that transpired in Ozark County, Missouri, in 1908.

Family Feuds

Family Feuds are things that inhabit legends and lore from the good old days. Yet, family feuds usually reminiscent of the bitter taste of sour persimmons in midsummer. Therefore, the good old days wane few and far between in these cases.

This is another surprising saga because it involves two sister-in-laws. In addition to looking over the past, many facts are skewed and snap conclusions are made. This is where a distorted view of history can take shape. Oh, what if the media runs the story in all its’ glory and real story is not so grandiose? It may or may not find its’ way to public consumption because public consumption equals money.

Just the Facts Ma’am

In doing this story, I wanted to find some facts to back up the story. As all may know, not all is as it seems. First, let’s take a look at the story first published. There are holes in it that do not make sense. Since this blog is so long, it will not be posted as a whole, but it will be released in two parts. For some reason or another, I have never heard of this story growing up in this same area in which this story supposedly transpired. Therefore, as extraordinary as the story seems, I wanted evidence.

Ponderings

Hey, I’ve been holding on to this story for six weeks. I’ll admit, I don’t know the whole story, but there was enough here that made me keep searching. I realize I’m also probably dragging up someone’s cherished grandmother’s name, or you too know the story. If that happens to be you, Dear Reader, please feel free to email me at: vincent.a@baxtercountylibrary.org. I love giving credit to whom credit is due. I am a turtle on a pole. I didn’t get here or anywhere by myself.

In teaching genealogy, I try to show my students there is more one can do with a U. S. Census record than just looking up names and dates. This is how I quelled my suspensions about the story, but that is in Part 2 of this blog. So, without further ado, let’s peer through the headlines and see the story where some unfounded facts are nothing but fuel to the fire.

AMAZONS FIGHT BLOODY DUEL.

LONELY SPOT IN THE.MOUNTAINS

SCENE OF STRUGGLE.

CHILD THE ONLY WITNESS.

Sister-in-law Take Up Husband's

Quarrel and With Knives They

Want at Each Other With

Murder in Hearts.

Gainesville, Mo., November 25.—The wives of two well-to-do farmers fought a desperate duel with bowie knives in a lonely spot on the mountain side, sixmiles south of here Sunday afternoon, and both were wounded.

The two women, Mrs. Frank Graham and Mrs. James Crabtree are sisters-in-law. Their husbands have been working a large farm on shares. Until recently there had been no trouble between them.

The duel was the outgrowth of a disagreement between the husbands over a settlement with a merchant who bought their cotton and had advanced them funds during the summer. But no clash occurred between the men, and the families returned to their homes, apparently;' at peace with each other. When quarrels arose later-the women took part in them, and as a result they decided to settle it by a duel. By agreement, accordingly, they went to a clearing in the woods, on the mountain side nearly a mile from their homes accompanied by the ten-year-old daughter of Mrs. Graham.

At first the two combatants hurled stones at each other. Then both drew knives from the bosoms of their dresses and a hand-to-hand battle ensued, Mrs. Crabtree received several slashes across the face, hands, and breast, but none of the wounds is of a serious nature. In return she succeeded in wounding Mrs. Graham in the right.arm, the cut extending from the shoulder to the wrist.

Mrs. Graham fainted from loss of blood, and her daughter, thinking that she was dead, ran home screaming. Mr. Graham hurried to the home and revived his wife and carried her home and sent a son to Gainesville for a doctor.

Inthe meantime the sheriff of Ozark county learned of the affair, and with his deputy went to the farm and arrested the two women. Both were brought to Gainesville and placed in Jail, but both were soon bailed. The charge against the women is assault with deadly weapons with intent to kill, which is a felony in this state.

The place where the duel was fought is in one of the wildest sections of Ozark county. Apparently the women selected the place with a view of preventing any interference.

END

FARMERS' WIVES FIGHT

DUEL WITH BOWIE KNIVES

Two Missouri Women Take Up

Husbands' Quarrel and Battle in Woods

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

GAINESVILLE, Mo., Nov. 22. — The wives of two well to do farmers fought a desperate duel with bowie knives in a lonely spot on the mountain side six miles south of here yesterday afternoon and both were wounded.

The two women, Mrs. Frank Graham and Mrs. James Crabtree, are sisters in law. Their husbands have been working a large farm on shares.

The duel was the outgrowth of a disagreement between the husbands over a settlement with a merchant who bought their cotton and had advanced them funds during the summer. When quarrels arose later the women took part. By agreement they went to a clearing in the woods on the mountain side, nearly a mile from their homes, accompanied by the 10 year old daughter of Mrs. Graham.

At first the two combatants hurled stones at each other. Then both drew knives from the bosoms of their dresses and a hand to hand battle ensued. Mrs. Crabtree received several slashes across the face, hands and breast, but none of the wounds is of a serious nature. In return she succeeded in wounding Mrs. Graham in the right arm, the cut extending from the shoulder to the wrist. Both were brought to Gainesville and placed in jail.

END

Sister-In-Law Choose Lonely Spot

And Fight Desperate Duel

Gainesville, Mo., December 2 — The wives of two well to do farmers fought a desperate duel with bowie knives in a lonely spot on the mountain side six miles south of here yesterday afternoon and both were wounded.

The two women, Mrs. Frank Graham and Mrs. James Crabtree, are sisters in law. Their husbands have been working a large farm on shares. Until recently there had been no trouble between them.

The duel was the outgrowth of a disagreement between the husbands over a settlement with a merchant who bought their cotton and had advanced them funds during the summer. When quarrels arose later the women took part in them, and as a result they decided to settle it by a duel.

WENT TO CLEARING

By agreement, accordingly, they went to a clearing in the woods on the mountain side, nearly a mile from their homes, accompanied by the ten year old daughter of Mrs. Graham.

At first the two combatants hurled stones at each other. Then both drew knives from the bosoms of their dresses and a hand to hand battle ensued. Mrs. Crabtree received several slashes across the face, hands and breast, but none of the wounds is of a serious nature.

In return she succeeded in wounding Mrs. Graham in the right arm, the cut extending from the shoulder to the wrist.

Mrs. Graham fainted for the loss of blood, and her daughter, thinking that she was dead, ran home screaming. Mr. Graham hurried to the scene and revived his wife and carried her home and sent a man to Gainesville for a doctor.

SHERIFF NOTIFIED

In the meantime the Sheriff of Ozark county learned of the affair, and with his deputy went to the farm and arrested the two women. Both were brought to Gainesville and placed in jail, but both were soon bailed.

The charge against the women is of assault with deadly weapons with intent to kill, which is a felony in this state.

The place where the duel was fought is in one of the wildest sections of Ozark County. Apparently the women selected the place with the view of preventing any interference.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Well…that’s what makes today’s news …the news. In addition, what makes a series of normal life events look extreme or bazaar? I believe it all matters behind the perspective and view of those who the chronicle their times. How about 116 years ago? I submit; it was the same. Yet, behind all the tomfoolery that can be seen in print, I believe the truth can be found.

Stereotyping

I remember when I was in the Air Force, people would ask me where I was from. I would tell them… born in Mountain Home, Arkansas, raised in Ozark County, Missouri, and lived on the Missouri & Arkansas Stateline. The next set of questions would entail…do you have electricity, running water, or toilet paper? I’ll admit it; the closest thing that many have seen in the past about the Ozarks was the show The Beverly Hillbillies or Al Capp’s Dogpatch comics. I’m not completely upset their perspective; we are a bit redneck in our ways. All the same, I would tell them their perspective was a little bit warped.

Being from the Ozarks, scrutiny and jokes of outsiders served a humorous vent of those who did not fare from these parts either. It was a normal flare of the region. Just as those people “Up North” made jokes of those hillbillies, hayseeds, rednecks, ridge-runners, and hicks, we countered their attack. It went something like this.

"Up North"

When I was a kid and someone would say they were from “Up North” or from “Chicago,” many a redneck’s eyes would roll up in their head or a gentle sigh of, “Yelp.” would ensue. Then we would look at our friends and give a nod in knowing the foreigner wouldn’t understand because they were from “Up North.” As I grew up, I realized not all Yankees were arrogant and egotistical. Ah…mmm…I’m married to one and happily converted. Actually, this point was needful in seeing the first strand of my family, The Wayland Family, came to Arkansas in 1815. Other migrations ensued to the Ozarks in 1840, 1859, & 1876. Needless to say, the family tree probably forked in a few areas and needed refreshing.

Moonshine Heritage
In the past, the Ozarks did play a part by its’ sheer remoteness in harboring some unsavory elements. Case in point…Moonshining. Moonshine and its’ industry in the Ozarks has given this profession a few peculiar names over the years. The Ozarks was known as the "Moonshine District" containing "Blind Tigers” or “Blind Pigs.” The trails & paths commuting this clear and liquid gold, “White Lightenin'” were known as the "Mountain Dew Express.” I have more articles which I will be posting in the future concerning moonshine in Baxter, Marion, Boone, and Ozark Counties.

They Said What?

As in some of my blogs, I like go over colloquial speech & dialect written in an original Ozark vernacular. People may say articles like these enforce bad stereotypes, but it is still part of our Ozark’s History.

Fur kaze. - For cause…or…Because.

Kase couldn’t fin' no door. - In case I couldn’t find the door.

Don't yu try tu fool us. - Don’t you try to fool us.

Yu air revenoo , that ' s what yu air. - You are a revenue officer, that’s what you are.

Wo 'lowed yu war revenoo. We allowed/thought you was a revenue officer.

'nd we' uns war reddy fur yu.’ – And we was ready for you.

'nd Zeke 'll take yu safe out tu-morrow. – And Zeke will take you safely out tomorrow.

'Hyar 's the road to Yellville; keep in the middle of it and ye’ll soon get there. – Here’s the road to Yellville; keep in the middle of it and you’ll get there soon.

Speech Not Often Spoken
Here are a few words or phrases not often heard in our day.

Sulphur – Old English form of the spelling of “Sulfur.”

Simon-pure “Rackensack” native - A sarcastic or mocking nickname for someone from Arkansas & their traditional folk manners or customs.

I demurred to this proposition. - I objected or balked at this proposition.

And Now To The Good Stuff
With all I have said, I have retrieved another portion of newsprint with a snapshot of the Ozarks’ History & Lore.

Enjoy the article.

IN WILD ARKANSAS.

A LAND WHERE THE MOONSHINER THRIVES.

In the Lair of the Mountain Outlaws—

Very Good People In Their Way But

Determined to Beat the Government.

A R K A N S A S, OR rather the Northern portion of the State, has become noted for its mineral wealth, and just at present the prospectors of California are turning their attention this way. Not far from Yellville is the charred stump of a broken and burned hollow tree where in 1861 the Boston mountain boys who followed Lee melted lead for bullets and molded them In the primitive molds of a half century ago. Their mode was a crude one, made so by necessity. A hollow tree trunk was filled full of lend ore picked by the would-be soldiers from the sides of the mountain in ridges.

A wooden trough connected the tree with a convenient iron kettle, a fire was lighted inside the stump, and as the molten metal ran down the wooden trough into the kettle rough mold turned it into rudely fashioned bullets that told on Southern battlefields many miles from the half-burned stump in Marion County. A fair-sized company went from the section immediately contiguous to Yellville, and every man had his bullet pouch packed with these home-made bullets of native metal. More than that, each soldier carried a powder-horn, and each horn was filled with coarse –grained powder made by the wives and sweethearts of the men who went out to fight against the Union. While the men were making bullets, the women were boiling saltpeter, sulphur and charcoal, and the result was a mixture that passed as gunpowder. It served the purpose, and when they marched to join the Southern forces further north, not many squads were better equipped.

As the new roads push their way through the northern counties the undeveloped condition of the country will strike their projectors forcibly. The simon-pure “Rackensack” native is found in his best in the northern section. The east and southeast have been brought into contact with civilization, but this portion has been left undisturbed.

Uncle Jeff Miller” of Baxter county who is nearly 80 years old, is one of the most determined opponents of the development idea. Uncle Jeff was born and reared and has spent the entire span of his existence in a little mountain home perchased high up on the ridge dividing Baxter and Fulton counties. Only once, to any one's positive knowledge, has he ever been within the sound of a locomotive whistle. This important event in Uncle Jeff’s life occurred about two years ago. Reaching the station, Uncle Jeff explained to the agent that he wanted to take a short ride. Soon the train rounded a curve and came dashing into the station. Uncle Jeff was seen to jump from his seat in the doorway of the station and to run wildly up and down the platform next the cars. The train pulled out, leaving him standing on the platform, a thoroughly bewildered man.

"Hello, Uncle Jeff,” said the station agent, "thought you were going to take a ride?"

"Was,” said Uncle Jeff.

"Why didn't you get on, then?”

"Fur kaze.”

"Well?”

"Kase couldn’t fin' no door.”

Uncle Jeff had chased up and down the platform looking for a door in the side of the car.

To the south and east of Yellville is a large territory in the very heart of the "moonshine district." Here the "blind tiger" has his lair, and the "mountain dew express" makes regular and frequently recurring trips. To the east for a tier of counties seven deep there are no railroads, and toward the south not enough revenue officers know the country to interfere materially with the business of the distiller of illicit spirits.

Stories of the moonshiner and his ways are plentiful—most of them are fragmentary facts dressed with imaginative touches, but there are true ones. A few months prior to the purchase by St. Louis capitalists of valuable mineral lands in Northern Arkansas, J. M. Hynicka, a mining expert was sent down by Kansas City and Denver parties to ascertain the value of the lead and zinc lands. He found it necessary to cross Bull Knob Mountain, which lies between Jamison Cree k and White River. He started across the mountain, prospecting as he went. After a holiday spent in leisurely picking his way he deflected from his course to examine a promising canyon. What followed he tells this way:

I started up the canyon, occasionally stopping to hammer a likely-looking piece of shale, or to put in my pouch a specimen containing the mineral I was in search of.

Meantime, I was slowly working my way toward the head of the canyon and paying little attention to anything else. When near the head I noticed a well-defined path running diagonally across, and as its direction seemed favorable to my course, I turned into it without hesitation, not stopping to note the fact that broad, beaten paths are not commonly found in the roughest portion of a rocky gorge half-way up a mountain side. I walked along the pathway, expecting every minute to turn a corner and find again the road which I had left several hours before.

Suddenly a bend in the road brought me abruptly into view of a mountain hut before which two women were busily engaged noting though swimming of something in a large kettle which stood at one corner of the cabin. I had time to note this much when the women discovered me. One of them darted into the cabin, while the other, with a shrill whistle, dodged into the brush. The whistle had not ceased echoing when the crack of a rifle and the sing of a bullet warned me that I was in for something I know not what.

Before I could turn three mountaineers stepped into view, and as each was armed with a long rifle, I threw up my hands and yelled, "Don’t shoot!” I was taken prisoner with somewhat more of formality and flourishing of the suggestive looking rifles than I thought was necessary.

I was profoundly thankful at that moment that I was not armed. Barring a pocket-knife, a hammer and a stout club, I had nothing that looked suspicious. I showed letters. I pointed to my hammer and argued how unlikely it was that the government would select me as an object of extermination for bold, bad moonshiners. My eloquence prevailed, and, after a long and earnest consultation beyond earshot, the bearded proprietor—the one who had tried to nip my career with a rifle ball—came forward, grasped me by the hand and roughly apologized.

I demurred to this proposition, but when I saw that with suspicion I was still regarded, and would not be allowed to depart in any case, I made the best of a forced situation and cheerfully assented. This changed their warning courtesy into a returning current, and I was told to make myself at home. I did so.

After my acceptance as a guest, the women appeared and resumed their labors, the men returned to their work, the nature of which I could only surmise, and I was left the sole occupant of the cabin.” The night was an uneventful one. I entertained my hosts with stories of the world beyond Bull Knob Mountain, and they in turn told hunting stories. In the morning Zeke accompanied me across the mountain. I soon found how true was the remark of my late host, the moonshiner, when he said that I would need a guide. We were halted by natives several times, but in each instance a word from Zeke was a ready passport. Finally my guide halted and briefly said:” ‘Hyar’s the road to Yellville; keep in the middle of it and ye’ll soon get there.”